https://i.imgur.com/hpqwyDN.png

Traveling to Fright Night this year starts out at the marketplace where those seeking to find the way to the location will find a series of carriages waiting. Crafted from ebony wood and silver, these carriages' interiors are lined with plush crimson for a comfortable ride. They can easily sit up to eight people at a time, encouraging traveling with friends or fellow party-goers. Sitting on the elevated box seat in front is a cloaked figure, holding the reins to lead a pair of nightmares to the party. The driver warns folks to be weary of approaching the black steeds, for not many care for the rage and malice that pours from the creature's shining red eyes. Upon closer inspection a person will find the living-like creatures are in fact mechanical or maybe living machine" Most machines don't breath, right' https://i.imgur.com/y83TXF8.gif

The carriage ride leaves the city of Rhydin and to the eastern providence. Not even half a hour into the ride people will notice that the trees have grown less lush - that could be due to winter coming, no' Soon enough gravestones start littering the sides of the path; some broken and crooked, some barely there at all. Did you see that last one" Wasn't that your name" (To be played off: a character may see their name or someone on the surface of their mind.) Are those bodies hanging from the trees"! https://i.imgur.com/Gj9WBFn.gif

The trees break away to a mouth of a village or rather what is left of one. The street traveled down is touched by time and weather, the buildings looking as if all it would take would be a good breeze and they would collapse. Looking outside the window a person can see what looked to be people in and around the streets, like a scene of the marketplace - people going about their daily lives. However, these people - who are dressed in clothes that were drab, dirty, and ancient in thread - appear to be...floating? These apparitions seem to pay the carriages no mind for the most party but ever so often a pair of kids could be seen chasing at the side of the carriage - their faces decayed and twisted in a cheerful smile. Their laughter, while not outside the carriage, seems to echo hauntingly in the interior and remains for a period even after the child disappear. https://i.imgur.com/b5JTmUj.jpg

The ride continues a ways, passing through the village of souls that seem to be lost to time. About half way through, and looking past the old buildings, one can catch sight of the destination. In the distance,casting a looming shadow over the village, lies a castle that looked just as ancient as the village. While crossing the stone bridge one can look down into the deep mouth of the moat to find it littered with yet more gravestones and dead trees as well as ambling undead figures. Not so much as ghostly looking as those of the village, these appear to be more zombie-like in fashion. https://i.imgur.com/ysSbwCH.jpg

The carriage pulls around a roundabout of a dead courtyard and stops at the front of the castle where towering double doors wait - open wide and inviting to what may lie within. Once the carriage stops fully the doors open, as if on their own, and a pair of steps drop down to aid those exiting.

Once inside one will find themselves standing in the great hall, walls draped in finery that is torn and shredded - whispers of a past that was mayhaps royalty. A red carpet invites to follow its path down the grand hall and up either side of the grand staircase to the second floor. Past another pair of doors leads to a great ballroom - the final destination. Larger than it seems on the outside, the ballroom reaches as far as a football field and is decorated from one end to the other in black and reds. Heavy black curtains line the walls with crimson drapes to decorate. A few feet in the carpet ends and leads to a hardwood floor which is hard to see under what seems to be a roll of thick fog. The fog raises six to twelve inches (depending on the area) off the floor and ever so often shifts, as if something moves beneath it.

Long tables set near the walls, not flush to allow movement, are draped with black satin and decorated with plates of red and white with gold trimming. Candles stand tall on the tabletops, filled with questionable liquid, somehow houses a single floating flame that casts a haunting crimson light on those nearby. Each seat is crafted for comfort, made of black lacquered wood and fitted with a cushion that seems to already know the comfort style of whoever sits in it. (Think something akin to memory foam. No trickery here!). https://i.imgur.com/gH9MVxZ.jpg

Truly the ballroom looks to be a place that the dark prince himself would have given a nod to. A sight of sophistication and darkness. Ever so often one can see a ghostly figure drifting around the room, paying no mind the guests - some haunting couples float-dancing across the floor, some without heads, and some disturbingly dripping flesh from their face.

https://i.imgur.com/xEDPN6M.png

People will find that for the most part they are able to explore the first and second floor of the castle but the rest seems to be closed off. When someone tries to go to a room they shouldn't, when they walk in they will oddly find themselves actually walking out the door they supposedly just walked in.

Rooms

Doll Room - On the first floor, after weaving through what looks to be a sitting room, there is a room that looks like it could have been a child's room at one time. Shelves follow the walls, littered with an assortment of dolls both new and ancient looking. One might feel as if the eyes of these dolls are following them and when looking back, they may find said doll's heads turned or body's out of position of what they remembered. Along the walls can be found various children's drawings. At first they look all cute and innocent but when you look back, somehow they are dark and twisted. When you blink" They are back to being cute and innocent. Like that crayon drawing of a stick figure girl and a pony. Wait. Is that a knife she is holding" No-no. That couldn't be.

Centering the room is a large bed, scattered with doll pieces and clothes. In the middle of all the body parts are boxes filled cloth dolls with brown or black stitching, cross-stitched eyes, and stitched up mouths. Another box consists of accessories, inviting you to decorate these dolls look like your favorite person or your worst enemy. Poke, twist, turn these little dolls to see if anything comes out of it. It may work or it may not. Who knows! (Voodoo dolls return. Please understand these dolls are more for show but if you want them to work contact the person who you made them to be like and work it out with them! It can be used for all sorts of fun and mischief.)

When trying to leave the room - when the door is opened the other side is filled with a large doll's head and a single eye staring lifelessly at the one at the door. The door will quickly slam shut then slowly creek back open to show the empty hallway. From behind, somewhere in the back of the room, a little girl's laughter can be heard. Coming and going like a haunt having fun. https://i.imgur.com/ccAqdEZ.jpg

The Kitchen - The kitchen is a large area with wooden shelves and all sorts of kitchen accessories - hanging pots, ladles, etc. Nothing seems out of the ordinary. A hanging painting of fruit and veggies sits behind the counter and there are stoves and brick ovens to be found. Centering this room is a large table with various fruits and plates. At the far end, next to a tall cupboard, is a door that leads to the supply room. Again, nothing out of the ordinary, right' (If your character enters this room let me know!) https://i.imgur.com/24vtTbH.jpg

Never Ending Study - Opposite hallway that leads to the sitting room can be found the study. The study is a large room filled with many different kinds of books, a handful of wingback chairs, a desk, and small reading table. For the most part it looks like a comfortable study. Until you try to leave. The door you came in locked, you are given only the choice to go through the door on the opposite side of the room. Passing through the door, it closes automatically. You find yourself...in the room you just left. Do you go back through the door you just went through or do you try the door at the opposite end" (If your character enters this room let me know. Pick door# 1 or 2 to proceed. Doors cannot be opened at the same time and both will lock if attempted.) The lights flicker and you swear you see something or somebody spazzing in the corner. Or was that just a shadow" A trick played by the light. https://i.imgur.com/ghSxGiC.jpg

Hallways of Whispers - While exploring the castle one might find themselves in a long stretch of hallway, walls decorated with various paintings. Many famous people and even maybe some familiar faces. Ever so often one of those faces seems to move or erratically shake before twisting into some grotesque counterpart of its former self. Sometimes they even look as if the painting is melting. Then, in a flick of light, all is back as it should be. A trick" Be mindful. Some of those paintings are even known to reach out and grab. The reason it is called the hallways of whispers" Because from those various paintings it seems whispers spill, yet when you try to get close and listen, the whispers seem to come from elsewhere. From behind. From above and below. Nowhere or everywhere. (Feel free to have fun with this information during live play) https://i.imgur.com/mfpFk6g.jpg

Dead End - While exploring these hallways you may come across a dead end with no doors and endless paintings behind you. In fact the hallway seems much longer than you originally thought. The dead end is a pair of levers. Might want to choose swiftly because it seems as if you are being followed. Ambling down the hallway and making pace towards you appears to be a haunt of a woman, fading in and out rapidly.

Pulling one leads downstairs to rejoin the party. And the other" Will extend the hallway. This new selection of hallway is covered in black goo and as you pass the paintings, it seems as if the black goo is coming from them to spill forth more people to join the shadowy specter of a woman. Another lever" What will it do' Will you rejoin the party or will you be captured by the ghostly hoard" Which do you choose" Which one is which' What happens if you get caught"! (If your character enters this room let me know. Pick lever# 1 or 2 to proceed.)

Games

Tempting Fate: For those who are truly daring, near the entrance is a box that oddly seems connected to the wall. Reaching inside will produce a prize or treat. If you are one of those who are unfortunate enough, you may end up with a card. Upon reading this card you will feel compelled to fill out whatever it says. (Please contact me if your character attempts this game.)

Witches' Brew - A Fright Night classic. These drinks are trick or treat in liquid form! The taste of it changes depending on the person who drinks it and it can either sate your thirst or cause some trouble. This year the Witches' Brew in glowy shot glass jar form. Not for the weak of heart. You have been warned. (Please contact me if your character attempts this game.)

Ghostly Visitors - Every once in awhile a person may find themselves approached by a ghost. Some asking to dance and some...well..some enjoy more mischievous approaches. (While I offer this as something to be played off, aka you want a ghost to ask your character to dance or scare them, I will randomly do stuff given I have the spare time to do so. So please feel free to have fun with this!)

Pumpkins and Costumes - Like always, Costumes are not mandatory but there are surely encouraged! As is bringing a pumpkin. Carved, painted, or decorated in a fun way bring them and show them off! Never know. That orange thing might win you a prize. (Costumes and Pumpkins can be posted here: http://rdi.dragonsmark.com/forums/viewtopic.php"p=242582#242582 )